In-ground directional light fixture

Abstract

A light fixture for directional, illumination is disclosed. A first embodiment contains a gimbal comprised of two opposing retaining collars with arcuately complementary surfaces which mate to the arcuate surface of the lamp/reflector assembly within the fixture housing. The fixture housing is sealed with a rotatable lens ring which radially compresses a sealing element when mounted to the fixture with a lens-frame. The lamp/reflector assembly is sealed by compressing a sealing element between a lens and the assembly body by camming a lens frame onto the body with a plurality of inclined planes acting on buttons from the body. A second embodiment includes a flexure hinge within the assembly body. Some embodiments include a square to round adapter for use where square fixtures are desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A light fixture, comprising: an in-ground housing having an interior and an opening;   an assembly gimbaled in the housing interior, the assembly including: a body having an interior, an opening, an arcuate outer surface; and   a lamp mounted in the body interior;     means for gimbaling the assembly mounted within the housing interior to provide rotation about a plurality of axes and including a pair of retaining members having arcuately complementary surfaces that mate to the arcuate outer surface of the body to suspend the assembly within the housing; and   means for providing electrical power to the lamp.   
     
     
       2. A light fixture, comprising: a housing having an interior and an opening;   an assembly gimbaled in the housing interior, the assembly including: a body having an interior, an arcuate outer surface and an opening; and   a lamp mounted in the body interior emanating light through the housing opening and assembly opening upon receiving electrical power;     a pair of retaining members mounted in the housing interior, the retaining members having arcuately complementary surfaces that mate to the outer surface of the body to suspend the assembly within the housing; and   means for providing electrical power to the lamp.   
     
     
       3. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a shoulder projecting therefrom within the interior to which one of the retaining members is mounted. 
     
     
       4. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the assembly includes a reflector behind the lamp within the body interior. 
     
     
       5. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein one of the retaining members is biased apart from and bracketed to the second retaining member. 
     
     
       6. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein a lens sealably covers any one of the housing and the assembly. 
     
     
       7. The light fixture of claim 2, wherein the arcuate outer surface is comprised of at least two arcuate surfaces on fins extending radially from the assembly body. 
     
     
       8. A seal for an opening in a body of a light fixture, comprising: a lens having a first lens surface, a second lens surface, an edge about substantially all the perimeter thereof, and a lip projecting from the edge;   a lens ring secured to the body comprising: a first ring member having a first hole therethrough and a first recess about the perimeter of the first hole; and   a second ring member having a second hole therethrough and a second recess about the perimeter of the second hole, the second recess being aligned with the first recess to form a slot encasing the lip of the lens such that the perimeter of the first hole circumscribes the first lens surface and the perimeter of the second hole circumscribes the second lens surface; and     a sealing element radially compressed between the edge of the lens and the body by the securement of the lens ring to the housing.   
     
     
       9. The seal of claim 8, wherein the fixture body is a housing and the opening is in the housing. 
     
     
       10. The seal of claim 8, wherein the fixture includes a plurality of buttons extending from the fixture about the opening and wherein a lens frame is secured by: aligning plurality of recesses in the lens frame having inclined planes with the plurality of buttons;   fitting the recesses over the buttons; and   rotating the lens frame to cam the lens frame onto the fixture and circumferentially compress the sealing element between the lens ring and the fixture.   
     
     
       11. A seal for an opening in the body of a light fixture, comprising: a plurality of buttons extending from the fixture body about the opening;   a lens having a first lens surface, a second lens surface, an edge about substantially all the perimeter thereof, and a lip projecting from the edge;   a sealing element between the lens and the fixture;   a lens frame secured to the fixture, the lens frame having a hole therein, the perimeter of the hole circumscribing the lens, and being secured by: aligning a plurality of recesses having inclined planes formed therein with the plurality of buttons,   fitting the recesses over the buttons, add   rotating the lens frame to cam the lens frame onto the fixture body and circumferentially compress the sealing element between the lens and the fixture body;     a lens ring encasing the lens and radially compressing the sealing element when secured to the fixture body by the lens frame, the lens ring comprising: a first ring member having a first hole therethrough and a first recess about the perimeter of the first hole; and   a second ring member having a second hole therethrough and a second recess about the perimeter of the second hole, the second recess being aligned with the first recess to form a slot encasing the lip of the lens such that the perimeter of the first hole circumscribes the first lens surface and the perimeter of the second hole circumscribes the second lens surface.     
     
     
       12. A gimbaled, in-ground lighting fixture for directional illumination comprising: a housing for mounting in the ground the housing having an interior and an opening;   means for directionally emanating light through the housing opening the emanating means being mounted within the interior of the housing below ground surface protected against intrusion of electrically conductive fluid, and rotatable about a plurality of axes, the emanating means including an assembly further including: a body having an arcuate outer surface and an opening; and   a lamp mounted in the body emanating light through the housing opening and the assembly body opening upon receiving electrical power; and     a pair of retaining members mounted in the housing interior, the retaining members having arcuately complementary surfaces which mate to the outer surface of the body to suspend the assembly within the housing;     means for providing electrical power to the emanating means, said means being protected from the intrusion of electrically conductive fluid.   
     
     
       13. The fixture of claim 12, wherein the lens sealably covers the second opening. 
     
     
       14. A method for gimbaling a lamp within a housing of a light fixture, comprising the steps of: mounting a first retaining member having an upwardly-facing, arcuate, innermost surface to the interior of the housing;   setting a body on the first retaining member, the body having a light source mounted therein and an arcuate outer surface for mating with the innermost surface of the first retaining member;   setting a second retaining member having a downwardly-facing, arcuate, innermost surface on the body, the downwardly-facing innermost surface being arcuately complementary to the upwardly-facing innermost surface of the first retaining member and mating with the arcuate outer surface of the body; and   maintaining the position of at least a portion of the second retaining member within a fixed distance relative to the first retaining member.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of maintaining the position of the second retaining ring includes permitting change in the position of the second retaining member relative to the first retaining member within the fixed distance. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of maintaining the position of the second retaining ring includes biasing the first and second retaining rings apart within the fixed distance.